Start the year with a smile

I’m not really one for new year’s resolutions. This year however, I made a conscious decision to smile more because happiness starts with a smile…and we all want to be happy right?

I try to smile at everybody. Not a stupid grin smile that makes me look like some freaky wannabe Cheshire cat. No…a real smile. From the heart. From me to whoever wants to accept it.

Over the holidays I spent some time in a shopping mall or two and whoever dared to glance my way got a big fat smile. It was mostly returned.

I think one of the most terrible jobs out there is to be a cashier in a busy supermarket over the festive season. I think all you want to do sometimes is bash the rude, impatient, bully of customer over the head with a frozen leg of lamb…or a ham….or whatever you can find. It has to be tough.

So armed with my most beautiful smile I greet them when I get to the pay point, I smile and ask them about their day. They would smile back and chat. That’s when I crack some corny joke and we all pack out laughing.

Smiling is contagious. Smiling leads to laughter which in turn makes us happy. Happy people smile more and become even more happy. Smiling people become happy and smile more which leads to even more happiness. This is a circle I love to be in. Going around smiling…at everybody.

Try it for one day. You’ll love it. Smile at kids, puppies, the cashier at the pay point, the random stranger in the street, the hobo, the super-rich, the granny, the wife pushing her husband in a wheelchair, the man in the wheelchair. Just smile and see what happens.

A smile is contagious and it’s the first step towards laughter.

Here’s to a smiley, happy 2019!

Ps. I found this video on YouTube. Watch it and try not to start giggling…I dare you!